William C. Wilkinson; Self-Styled Historian of Hidden Hills

William Charles Wilkinson, 78, self-styled historian of Hidden Hills, a gated community near Agoura. A graduate of UC Berkeley, Wilkinson worked as a social worker and manager of the American Red Cross chapters in Tucson and Lansing, Mich., founding a blood bank in each city. He moved to Southern California when he became manager of the Van Nuys Chapter of the American Red Cross and director of public relations for Goodwill Industries. A collector of classic cars who led Hidden Hills parades in a vintage Bentley, Wilkinson once told The Times: “I’m proud of our dinky little city with its all-volunteer City Council, mayor, commissioners and community association.” He was elected Calabasas’ Mr. Red Hot Chili Pepper and earlier this year received the Calabasas Living History Award. He wrote frequent articles in various small publications, labeling himself the “community curmudgeon.” On Monday in Los Angeles.